Gamecube 2 :O

It may be harder to program for them, but multiple core processors are the only way forward with current silicon manufacturing technology. Intel realised they make single-core processors over 3.8GHz without serious heat problems (not like the ones they can make are bad enough!), and AMD and IBM are obviously reaching similar limits.

There's nothing else they can do to make the next generation of consoles significantly more powerful than today's. Programmers are just gonna have to get used to these difficulties. It will definately show who can program things well, though...

 

What's the problem with developing for multi-core? We've been doing it for years. Have you heard about GPUs and CPUs? Even back in the days of the Amiga, anyone ever hear about copper lists? Okay, it was a simpler system, but it's still largely the same principal.



What will be harder is to get the best performance out of these systems, but the base level should still out perform current hardware.



The industry has been moving towards systems that can take advantage of multi cored systems anyway over the last few years, with OOD and OOP. The PS2 has multiple cores but they are harder to get a handle on as they are much more specialised. General purpose cores are much easier to exploit.



What I want to know about the new Nintendo console though is are they talking cores or CPUs? The 360 has 3 processors, but each is dual cored, making 6 cores. Are Nintendo talking 2 duel cores, a single quad cored CPU or 4 CPUs?